Committees and BoardsTechnology Planning Committee
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Minutes of the Technology Planning Committee Meeting Members: Mark Covey (P), Werner Faries (P), Bibhor Dhungel (A), Steve Frank (P), Jim Hewitt (A), Sharon Hoverson (P), Keith Landa (P), Sharon Nelson (P), Erik Ramstad (P), Martin Tackie (P), Don Rice (P), Carole Stalheim (P), Darin Ulness (A) Committee business and newsCommittee members discussed issues arising from the switchover of the ResNet to 702 Communications, and the steps being taken to address the issues. There are some reports of sporadic access to the library's electronic journals from the ResNet, since the switchover. Jim will pass this information on to Theresa Borchert to follow up. Atomic Learning has been notified of the changed address range for the ResNet. 702 flyers have been distributed to each residence hall room. For now, the main campus network is still at 9 Mbps connection through the State of Minnesota connection. Erik reported that the new fiber has been pulled through the skyway and terminated at Grant Center. Terminations of the fiber in Olin will take place in the next week or so. Some network cables in Olin were moved over break to accommodate the addition of replacement iMacs into the art studios. Current budget review and the Sun JES projectSteve presented an update on the current year's budget. All priority one items have been purchased. Priority two items total about $25K, which includes some network upgrades that have already been done. Current year costs for starting the implementation of the Sun JES project would include ~$12K plus expenses to have Sun Professional Services come in for consultation and planning, and ~$13K plus travel for training for Concordia staff. Committee members decided to go ahead with purchasing additional digital cameras for the new Art digital photography class, but to hold off on other remaining priority two items until it is clear how much will be needed this year to begin the Sun JES project. If there are funds remaining after taking care of the planning and training costs for the Sun JES project, then next in priority would be to do the remaining network upgrades. 2004/2005 technology budgetThe committee appointed members to the budget subcommittee to review department budget requests and develop the proposed technology budget for 2004/2005. Subcommittee members include Don, Jim, Darin, Steve and Keith. The target figure for next year is $500K. Funding the Sun JES project will be a top priority. Tech Planning decided earlier this year not to schedule a building infrastructure upgrade this summer, to allow Network Services to focus on the Sun JES project and Physical Plant staff to focus on other needed projects. The new campus apartments will need to be wired for voice, data and cable though. Major Projects committee, in planning the summer construction schedule, has allocated staff time and infrastructure funds for one new technology classroom. Bishop Whipple Gross have relative few technology classrooms, and could use an additional one. Darin indicated there is interest in having Ivers 380 upgraded with technology. In addition, there are existing tech classrooms that should be upgraded to a more modern configuration. The budget subcommittee was directed to propose one definite classroom for upgrade and two other rooms to be done if possible. Committee members discussed issues of coordinating equipment purchases: copiers vs. network printers, cameras, etc. Centralized purchases have both advantages and disadvantages. Committee members agreed that for small peripherals without service contracts, it was best to keep a uniform set of hardware to be maintained by Computer Services. For other purchases, better coordination is needed between Computer Services, Instructional Technology, and individual departments. Keith mentioned that Television Services will be developing a multi-year plan to upgrade classrooms from VCRs to DVD/VCR combo units, using funds made available from Television Services revenue. Technology long-range planKeith provided an overview of the current long range plan - the seven sections involved and their general principles and specific recommendations. Committee members are to review the specific recommendations of the current plan to evaluate them at the next meeting: to what extent the recommendations from 2002 have been met, whether they are still relevant, and what new recommendations should be proposed. Committee agenda for the springCommittee members brainstormed ideas for the spring agenda, and came up with the following list of items: technology long range plan; budget; helpdesk; Mac lab configurations (storage locations, authentication, scheduling); planning for the Sun JES project; preliminary evaluation of 702 Communications as provider for the ResNet; future classroom development; Internet 2; Voice over IP; wireless futures; responding to the Higher Learning Commission report; phasing out the modem pool; technology staffing levels; changes in organizational structure, technology infrastructure and tech support arrangements; development and announcement of criteria for the innovative funds. Next meeting will be January 22nd. Keith Landa |
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